Hello everyone,

I just took the oil pan off of my 51 Flathead V8 and was cleaning up the pan and had a question. The front and rear of the pan have some kind of a seal that is seized in place and dont want to budge. Are these seals just sitting in place and are stuck or is there a groove or something they fit into? I looked at the diagram on vanpelts but it doesnt shiow that much detail.

Also, while the flywheel is off is there a rear main seal or anything I should replace while the flywheel is off?

Thanks, Dave

 

Flathead info here: Ford Flathead V8 .. 1932 thru 1953 • Index page

They use rope seals - in halves - in a groove in both the oil pan and above the crank. Only way to replace the top half is to loosen the crank. Front and back.

Installing the new one - pre-soak in motor oil, tamp in tightly and cut so it protrudes from the surface a bit (1/8") That way it will compress to seal.

Unless you're getting significant leakage from them, I'd let well enough alone.

 

I will probably change the one in the oil pan since I have it off. The one in the block I will leave alone until I tear the motor down next winter. Thanks!

 

I concur with MT. Doing the upper seal is not a fun job unless you remove the crank. But if you must they make a chinese finger-type tool made of thin wire strands with a pigtail that can be fed through the seal channel after removing the old seal (not a fun job either). If you do it from under the car the secret is to use the starter to turn the crank while pulling on the pigtail. The rope seal should be a little longer than necessary so you can release the chinese fingers then just cut off the excess. Again I agree with MT, it is not a job for the faint of heart. Chances are that it will still leak some after you are done.